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Purdue has a proud long-snapping tradition. I say this because it is very hard to remember the last time we had a bad snap on a punt or field goal attempt. Was it Andy Standifer’s infamous bad night in San Antonio, where two bad snaps led to two touchdowns and made that game much closer than it should have been? Well, today’s player has never been near that.
Ben Makowski – Jr.
Osceola, IN (Penn HS)
6’2”, 251 pounds
Long Snapper
2017 Projection: Starter at long snapper
If I have learned one thing in running this blog it is that long snapping is definitely a skill. It is just as important as holding or kicking. Carson Wiggs even had a nickname for the three-part unit of snapper-holder-kicker (Remember The Perfect Storm?).
Makowski came to Purdue as the No. 6 rated long snapper in the nation according to Chris Sailer kicking and has been the starter from day 1. It is a good job if you can get it. You work a handful of plays in the game, hustle downfield on punts, occasionally recover a muffed punt (Jesse Schmitt, Makowski’s predecessor, was really good at this), and have your schooling paid for via scholarship.
Through 24 games in his career Makowski has been virtually flawless. Within the next year Purdue will start looking for his replacement since he’ll be a senior next season, and Makowski can train him as his young ward.